BANGOR- The Ellsworth Eagles started very strong, withstood a rally and then built a very comfortable lead and captured their first Class B boys regional title since 1988 with a 52-34 win over the Orono Red Riots on Saturday afternoon.
With an estimated 4,000 fans in attendance, that number broke a record for now the biggest for a basketball game in the short history of the new Cross Insurance Center. Ellsworth senior center Bruce St Peter commented on that after the game, “We looked around and could tell it was crowded even around that loop over there. I tried to keep my teammmates in check and just said they are here for us, this is for us. It was nerve-wracking at first but we fought through it and once we got that first basket we settled in.”
The Eagles certainly did settle in early. Junior guard Bryce Harmon scored seven points in the opening quarter as Ellsworth built a 13-4 lead. Orono fought back though scoring the last six points and Ellsworth had a 13-10 after the first.
The Red Riots continued that run in the second quarter taking their first lead at 14-13 on a fast break slam dunk by forward Imao Woldring. The run ended at 12-0 but Orono suddenly had a 16-13 lead. Ellsworth then came alive and totally changed the momentum of the game. The Eagles would score the final 15 points of the quarter, including 10 from St Peter to take a 28-16 lead into halftime. Harmon said after the game, “I remember I was out and on the bench when we had that run. Kyle (Golding) was getting in the paint making stuff work for us, Bruce (St Peter) I don’t know how many he had in that quarter, he stepped up, people playing their role and doing their thing out there”.
On the first possession of the second half Cooper Henderson made a jumpshot and the run at that point was 17-0 and stretched the Eagles lead to 14 at 30-16. Kamron Hines ended the run with a put back layup and the Riots would eventually cut the lead under 10 at 35-26 with 3:30 left in the quarter. Four more points from St Peter and four from Harmon though would extend the lead back to 13 at the end of third quarter, 43-30.
Ellsworth would extend to their biggest lead to 47-30 early in the fourth quarter and the closest the Riots would get is 13 the rest of the way. The Eagles made 7-8 from the foul line down the stretch to capture the 18 point victory. Ellsworth shot 17-20 from the line in the game while Orono was only 2-6.
Orono, the number four seed who ends their season at 16-5, they were led by Woldring who had eight points and three blocked shots. Hines, Jake Koffman and Keenan Collett each had six points each. Koffman also had five rebounds.
For Ellsworth, who is now 17-4 and now winner of the North region as the number two seed, St Peter had a game high 19 points and six rebounds while Harmon finished with 13 points. Nicholas Bagley also chipped in with nine points.
Ellsworth will now play for the Class B state championship next Friday, February 26th at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor against South champion Lake Region. The Eagles are seeking their first state title in boys basketball in 50 years. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m.
